Never to Busy to Post...

I have been in my home for over two years now.  My posts have slowed down because home-owning slowed down.  There have been no snake invasions, floods or other acts of God that have been worth writing about... so what do I do?

I have hesitated about writing a post like this, but why not...

My great-aunt Maggie died two weeks ago.  At any funeral, I end up thinking deep, and long term.  Hence, this post.

"How are you doing" or "How are you" is a standard American greeting that we all use daily.  I am going to guess that people traditionally answer, "Well" or "Good" and ask you the same in return.  How often do you ask it and mean it - and by mean it, expect an honest answer and are ready to listen?

I would speculate 2 things now:
1. You use it as a greeting, not expecting someone to unload their troubles on you.
2. The answer, either given by you or received, has more often been "busy" rather than anything else.

Can we stop saying we are busy?  Let me pause.  Let me admit.  I still use 'busy' as an answer but I am trying to quit.  Everyone is busy.  Acknowledged, and now let us try to move on - please, and thank you.  In our current age, we can do more, faster, and with less effort than anyone has ever done before - so we fit more in and and we still want more?  OR... do we maybe have our priorities out of line?

My personal battle - the gym.  If working out were really a priority for me, could I not cut out watching Big Bang Theory, surfing media sites, or doing other "activities" so that I could go to the gym?  Granted, some days, I really do work late, I need to wash clothes because clean underwear is a priority over any other... but most days, I just need to get honest with myself.

As a part of my battle of the "busy" - I am asking my friends to be honest with me.  I am okay if you turn down social plans if you need downtime or if you need to make them later so you can workout or work late or wash clothes... Missing dinner is not going to ruin our friendship or make us any less close.

In a society that expects us to be 100% engaged, 100% of the time - it can be overwhelming.  But if you were to step away and say what am I going to be remembered for... is it going to be your facebook/instgram/twitter posts, your blog views, the tv shows you loyally followed, or your overtime? I am going to guess no.

He who has been given much, much is expected.  Let's put on our big boy panties and get to 'work'.  Life has a lot to offer, lets enjoy it, take advantage of it, and be grateful for it... instead of seeing it as a burden.

I am not busy - my life is blessed and full!

#TBT

#TBT - (Throwback Thursday): This is another "holiday" Twitter and Instagram hashtag, which shows up every Thursday on both sites. The impetus behind this one is that it is an opportunity for people to share photos and info that is a "throwback" to an earlier time.

As my #TBT, I want to share about Dibora Getachew - or as I first knew her, Dotty.  Dotty was born on August 05, 1993 in Ethiopia.  Bethany Presbyterian Church's Youth Group started sponsoring her when I was in high school - so it has been over ten years that we have supporting Dibora.  At age 20, Dotty is still in school and is preforming above average.  Our $38 a month provides Dotty with Bible teaching, medical exams, hygiene supplies, recreational activities, tutoring, scholastic materials and nutritious meals. Dotty will be eligible for our continued sponsorship through August 2015 as long as she stays in the program. 

I am asking everyone that originally helped to sponsor Dibora to make a commitment to see her through the remainder of her sponsorship - 24 months.  If you can, please sign up with me to sponsor her for a month - if you cannot or do not want to sponsor a full month, any contribution will help.  So on #TBT, when you remember all that you have been blessed with in your past, pass the blessings forward and consider helping out Dotty!

Life Recently

It has been months since I have written.  I sometimes struggle of what to write - trying to separate what I find worthy of opening up to the world and I should keep to myself (or more likely what most people would find not noteworthy or just downright boring).

So what has been going on in my world between posts?  Well, life. 

Often I feel that media (facebook, television, etc) pushes us to believe that to lead a fulfilled life that every second as to be connected and maximized with fun and excitement. Well, life isn't facebook perfect.  Life is not always connected.  Life is filled with fails and downtime and time alone if you are lucky.

So what has been in my life recently?

Work - and lots of it.  I have been on project to Canada and most recently one closer to home.  I have learned that I don't like traveling to Canada - at least in the winter.  I drove through what I as a Southerner will call a blizzard, successfully.  I survived the cold.  They survived my accent.

Travel - I recently took at trip to Panama - and I mean the country - not Panama City Beach as many people first think.  The canal is amazing and the rainforest beautiful - it is a fun city to visit.  I think my favorite part was a rainforest hike to a waterfall/pool area where we could swim.  Don't tell my mother - but I did the walk barefoot as Toms plus mud equal a slip and slide - and me falling into mud repeatedly would not be cute.  I will have to post some pictures at some point.

Weddings - everyone is getting hitched, including my brother later this summer.  Two down and two to go so far this year.  This year, I was playing it thrifty and planning on wearing the same dress to at least 3 of the weddings.  I found it at TJMaxx and it just need a bit of altering.  The person who altered it, ruined it beyond wear or repair.  So, I went into panic mode as I got it back the day before I was headed out of town for the first wedding.  Luckily, I was able to run out and find two more options at TJMaxx that didn't require altering.  I have resolved never to get anything altered again or to learn how to do it myself.  We will see if I stick to that heated resolution.

Reading - I have been in a book reading frenzy. As I now commute nearly 2 hours a day to work, I am doing one book via audiobook and then reading others when I am not in the car.  What have I read so far last month and this month: Divergent, Insurgent, Life of Pi, several Jack Reacher books, Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Beautiful Creatures, and currently In the Garden of Beasts.  I would recommend most of them.

Stuff - and this is the non-exciting stuff that really fills up life.  Taking pets to the vet, cleaning the house, weeding the front yard, laundry, more cleaning of the house, grocery shopping, cooking, and of course - more cleaning!  Mix that in with some TV, Front porch sitting, back porch lounging and long talks with friends and family  and you have my life this spring.

I am trying to appreciate the "in between" moments and enjoy the big moments.  Maybe do a little less posting on the internet and more connecting in real life.

Saving the Dough!

So there has been quite a bit of buzz on coupon-ing recently and I am late to join the coupon train.  But - I am on the wagon now and loving the savings.

I have considered couponing for a while, but could never justify it for several reasons.  For example, often you have to buy multiples for coupons and I don't have extra space for stuff as my house is very small (same issue for people who also live in apartments).

I am also fine with generic brands in most cases - and you rarely find coupons for generic brands.  I could not justify the time of seeking out coupons when it would not result in a lower price of the generic brand I could get a Wal-Mart or Kroger. Granted, when it comes to my Honey Nut Cheerios - I am going to need name brand - so there was some opportunity here - but it was not enough to really motivate me.

What was the tipping point for me? The Newspaper.  I wanted to keep up with more local events in Atlanta, so I decided to subscribe to the AJC.  They running a deal where the Thursday/Sunday print paper plus a full digital subscription was the same price as the digital subscription.  What is special about that?  The Sunday paper includes sales adds and LOTS of coupons.

So I decided that if I could coupon enough actual savings to pay for my AJC, I would do it.  Yesterday - I celebrated - I saved enough to pay for 2 months worth!  I saved over $20 at Target with coupons - a third of my total bill!  So how am I actually saving as I don't consider it saving to buy the more expensive item at the same cost as the generic.

I have 3 ways that I am really saving now.

Aldi.  I have one just as close to my house as the Kroger I normally shop at.  But I spend about a 1/3 to get random brands at the same quality.  I have actually started to prefer some of there stuff.  I got 3 bell peppers for the price of 1 at Kroger.  And 2 avocados for the price of 1 at Kroger.  No coupons - just go in and save. 

Drawbacks: you need to bring your own bags, you can only use cash or credit.  Limited selection.

Lessons Learned: Some stuff is great, but some not.  The milk I just bought from there - fail.  Overall, I like it and strive to do base shopping there every week and fill in the holes with other places.

Know your Sale/Store. I know that Wal-Mart and Target carry the Welch's Lite juice I like for a dollar cheaper than Kroger - without sales or coupons.  I have started looking at the prices of what I buy at Target, Wal-Mart, and Kroger.  This way, I know what the average price is for each of the regular items I buy so I recognize sales and deals.  Based on this weeks sales ad, I knew that Petco had my cat's dry food for $3 less than the normal price at Target - so I walked next door and saved $3 yesterday. 

Finally, Coupon! I had to learn not to "clip" a coupon because something looked cool or I may need it.  I look for what I really buy and cut out those coupons.  Then, I separate into store groups - if I know that something is consistently cheaper at a store or currently on sale at a store - I plan to buy it there to maximize savings.  I also try to use all of my coupons that are less than 50 cents at Kroger - as they will double the coupon. 

I recently had a friend over that saw my envelopes and baggies of coupons and asked me if this was as good as couponing got - and actually, no it is not.  Kroger now has electronic coupons that you can "load" onto your plus card.  No need to cut out any paper.  I just load them to my Kroger Plus Card, make my list, and shop.  The coupons are automatically used when I checkout.  These coupons don't double and you can't use other coupons - but there are usually more and a greater variety than what I find the the Sunday paper.

Like you may guess - it does take time and planning.  But with the cost of food going up and my salary not - you look for ways to maximize your budget.  I get excited to save and find that I am getting better at it over time.  I don't see myself ever being an extreme couponer - but I do see myself saving!

I am Suzy Homemaker - watch me save!

Screaming Reaction

I am still shaking from the adrenaline rush as I write this.

Currently working from home and with a teams across the globe, I have gotten in a habit of checking email as early as I can.  Afterwards I will do breakfast/getting ready stuff.

Today, today was different.  It is just after 7am.  I am reading through my first emails in my PJs - I haven't even brushed my teeth yet.  I hear tortured screams.  Horrible screams.  At first, I think maybe it is some wrong song choice my Pandora is kicking me off with.  So I mute my computer.  The screams keep coming.  I jump up and look out of my window to see what could be making the screams.

I see a boy laying face down on the ground by a crumpled bike, two houses down the hill from me.  And I ran.  No shoes.  In my PJs.  Hair everywhere.  I didn't think twice about it.  I was terrified of what I may find.  A lady was already stopping in her car on her way to work.

Luckily, the young boy was not seriously hurt.  No blood or broken bones.  There were scratches on his helmet.  He would not let us call his mom or take him back home - but he slowly started getting over the shock and pain of the crash so we just let him recover.  He and I talked about how lucky he was to have been wearing his helmet.

After a few more minutes, he got up and checked out his bike.  Finally, he got back on and rode the rest of the way to school.  I think he is going to be bruised up, but will be fine.

I am so relived that he is okay.  But what I am more excited about - people in my neighborhood all came out of their houses to check on the situation.  I am glad that I don't live in community that passes the buck, assuming someone else will help. 

When someone's car alarm goes off - we check.  When we see someone parked outside of a house, we ask or monitor the situation.  I love feeling safe beyond my house and into my community.  I am grateful for the good people who live near me.

"All that is required for evil to prevail is for good men to do nothing."- Edmund Burke

Are you doing something or nothing? Is your community doing something or nothing?

I'm Ballin'

Suzy Homemaker is officially ballin'!

UrbanDictionary.com offers these definitions for 'ballin':

Ebonics.
1.) To play basketball. (b-ball)
2.) Living in affluence/wealth.

I am 6' tall and get asked if I play(ed) basketball all of the time... No, I have not nor do I actively play basketball.  Thanks for asking.  Do you pay mini-golf?

I definitely don't consider myself living in wealth or affluence, though I feel very blessed. So, how is Suzy Homemaker ballin'? I am sitting on a ball.  Yup, I am ballin' at work.

Let me explain.  I have recently be able to work from home everyday instead of traveling everyday.  Hello yoga pants!  But I digress...  Working from home, I have been spending hours upon hours in the same chair. 

The chair.  It is a beautiful parson's chair.  Straight back, straight seat.  Horridly uncomfortable for long term sitting.  I have noticed that my posture was suffering more than it usually does and my legs were going to sleep on a regular basis.  No bueno.

So, Suzy Homemaker bought a ball.  And yes, I am bouncing/balancing/sitting on it right now.  And no, I haven't fallen off it - yet (I am sure it is going to happen).  Some sources claim that you will burn calories by sitting on it - and I would have to agree.  Now, I am not talking I am going to start skipping my yoga classes burning calories - but I am moving throughout the day, even it is tiny movements without thinking.  I have also noticed that I am correcting my posture and my legs have not fallen asleep once since I started ballin'!

Now this is not some magical or special ball, it is the same ball that you would used in the gym and I got it for less than $20 at my favorite store, Amazon!  It has been a game changer at "work".  Best part, when I am done for the day, I just roll it under my desk!

I may look like a fool sitting on this ball, bouncing as I work on my laptop and lead conference calls - but I feel better, and that is what counts in my book.

Are you ballin'?

Help Me Understand...

I am driving to my yoga class yesterday evening and as I pass through an intersection a young man is walking in the cross walk.  Help me understand this about him and the hundreds of other males I see doing this...

Your pants are SO big that you have to walk with one hand holding them up.  I can see your underwear and all of your butt.  You have a belt on - but it does nothing to hold up your pants as you are still walking with one hand holding them up.  Why? Help me understand this.

...

I often host parties and when I do I typically allow friends to bring their friends.  We are adults and I would never classify my parties as wild.  On New Years, one of my girlfriends came to me and told me, "You have a man hanging in your shower" - I immediately jumped to someone is in my house that should not be there.  Only to come to find out, no, someone had drawn a man hanging from a rope on my shower curtain.  My shower curtain is a large tree, so the man was hanging from the tree.  It was in pen.  It was about at the level where you can tell someone grabbed a pen while they were on my toilet and proceeded to deface my house.  Help me understand why an adult would draw on something in my house? 

...

I look around and I see so many things that don't make sense.  Why would anyone steal?  Why are kids bullying each other? Why would someone kill a stranger?  Why do people claim to be on diets and them post all of the unhealthy meals or liquid calories they eat on Facebook?  Why do people say they are trying to save money or have no money - yet they have cell phones, fake nails, name brand clothing, or they smoke and drink on a regular basis?

Now, I know that I do not always act logically - but I try.  I try to act with compassion and kindness.  Help me understand why it appears that I am living in a world were so many people aren't?

Can you tell that I have started reading more news lately?  Maybe I just need to cut that out...

Cutting the Cord

I did it years ago.  I don't regret it - and I don't miss it or the expensive bills that come with it.

I don't have cable/satellite television.  I have a digital antennae which cost less than $8 to buy from Amazon.  I also have Hulu Plus and an Amazon Prime account which gives me access to free movies and television shows. So I pay approximately $8 a month to watch television. (I am not including my Amazon Prime costs as that pays for itself with all of my free shipping and book rentals!)

Here is my antenna from Amazon (it just plugs in where you would plug in your cable cord):

http://www.amazon.com/RCA-ANT111-Basic-Indoor-Antenna/dp/B000HKGK8Y/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1359040609&sr=8-4&keywords=digital+antenna

What is the exception?  I absolutely love Walking Dead.  That is AMC and not available through Hulu Plus.  Now, if I was a patient person, I would wait and get Netflix for a month and watch it there a year from now.  But I am not.  So, I make dinner and go over to a friends house and we watch it together - which I prefer.  I get to see the show, but I also get to enjoy watching it with friends.
I have heard so many people talk about how they couldn't live without it - the biggest excuses typically being need for kids programming and need to see the game.  I can say that there loads of kids shows and movies on Prime and Hulu - and you will get them will no or fewer commercials (a big plus).  Now, regarding the games - you will get the local channel games - but if it is on ESPN or some special cable show - find a friend and go watch with them, aren't games better watched that way anyway?

See, even Clark Howard is telling people to do it:
http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-bargain-hunter/2013/01/24/clark-howard-its-not-so-easy-to-cut-cable-or-satellite-tv/?cxntfid=blogs_atlanta_bargain_hunter

More importantly, shouldn't we be detaching ourselves from the television and getting off of our couches? So, try it - cut your cord or ditch your dish - you will save money and maybe you will like a life less dependent on television.

Leaving a Legacy

Yesterday was MLK Day - it was also a day off of work for me.  So after I got done working for a few hours (isn't that how it sometimes goes?) - I started freaking out. 

Why? I had this day off and nothing to do.  You see, I am rarely satisfied with just sitting on the couch or taking a nap.  I feel like the world has so much to offer outside of my house and is spinning so quickly that if I don't move quickly, I will miss out.  And no one wants to miss out in today's world of over-connected, reading updates while talking to someone on blue-tooth while driving in rush hour traffic, right?

So I went to Fernbank - to see it's Ghensis Khan exhibit.  It was really well done.  I am sure I learned about the Mongol Empire in school, but sadly, I didn't retain it.

I (re)learned from this exhibit that the Mongol Empire was the largest empire in our recorded history - which is quite impressive to me - as I generally think of Alexander the Great's conquests or the expansion of the Roman Empire.

I learned that the Mongol expansion was known for its religious tolerance, development of the a postal and passport system, and that they were the first to make hamburgers (but they used horse not cow!) among other things. 

To walk around and see artifacts and effects from this empire that started back in the 12th Century - well, it took me a moment to absorb it all.  This man lived as a nomad with no permanent home base.  He had no modern way of communication or any modern conveniences or "necessities" as we see them, yet he ruled the largest empire in history.

This is a huge legacy to have created in his 65 years.  Dr. King lived less time than that yet made a huge impact on today's world also. 

I can pretty confidently say that I will not be making legacies that are even a breath of what these men did.  Maybe no one will know my name in 100 years.  I am okay with that.  But I do know one thing about my life - I want to live it to the fullest and make sure that I have a positive impact.

What will your legacy be?

My Practice, My Acceptance

I think we are still seeing all of the diets and workouts... for those of you in gyms, I hear we still have some New Year Resolutioners trying to stick with it.

Before I had my current job which requires travel, I kickboxed.  And I kickboxed a lot.  For nearly 2 years, I was crossing, upper cutting, side and forward kicking.  I was up and down and jumping and kicking.  I was faster and faster and then even faster.  I was in amazing shape.  Kickboxing was an amazing practice for reducing stress.

When I started traveling, I could not afford the expense of kickboxing and not being able to attend at least 4 classes a week.  So I stopped.  Over the past 2 years, I have tried traditional gyms, walking, running, Zumba, and at home DVDs (you can borrow anything from Tae Bo to the Brazilian Butt Lift, I have them all).

Nothing stuck.  I always felt like I was not getting a great workout because I was not pushing myself - or even worse - I just wasn't doing anything.  I didn't like anything that I found.

Then, I found Yoga.  I think I went onto my mat for the first time thinking, this will be easy.  It is basically sitting, breathing and holding some poses.  No problem, I used to kickbox.

Wrong. Very, very wrong.

As someone who has little balance, is out of shape, and has been leading a mostly sedentary life, my first yoga class rocked my world.  Sweat was pouring off of me like rain.  I felt like I was hit by a truck I was so sore the next day - and I never moved out of my 2'x6' mat!  There was no running or jumping jacks. 

Now, I am loving yoga at the moment because it is helping me gain my flexibility back (that is going to be long road) and it is helping me tone and strengthen my body.

But why is yoga working for me when nothing else did?  Yoga is more than toning the body - it is about working out your mind and it is about accepting whatever you may bring to your mat and practice that day.

Learning to accept me - what I can and cannot do, forgetting that the person next to me is not sweating and is doing something 3 levels more complex than me, letting go of what I cannot control in my life and at work, focusing on what is going on in my body and what is happening now... learning to accept and acknowledge all of this while making your body move and stay in poses is well, it is relaxing.

So when I fall out of a pose or can only do the beginner stage of a move - I don't get mad and quit.  I don't get frustrated and judge myself - and I don't feel judged by others.  Yoga is about me and my individual practice.

Now - sometimes this is harder than others.  I had a rough day earlier this week at work - it was crazy and I didn't want to go to yoga.  But I did.  I could tell I was not focused on my practice as I struggled through every pose, messed up flows.  Slowly, I forced myself to focus on the breathe of yoga.  Focusing on in and out, one with each move.  I stopped trying to keep up with the class.  I flowed to my own - and it was fine.  I let go - even if only for a moment.

And at the end of the session - I felt better - regardless of what comes and goes in our lives - the good times and bad - we have to keep moving forward.  We must continue to breathe - in and out. 

That is what I love about yoga.  I find something different in it every time I step onto the mat.  For me, in this part of my life - it is the exercise I need, physically and mentally.  No judging, just accepting what I have today, but pushing myself to make it the best that I can make it.  That is yoga.

A New Year Mix Up

Wow. It is 2013.  The holidays came and went. The New Year came and went.  I watched with bittersweetness as someone finally hauled off my Christmas tree yesterday. Now, it is diets and workout commercials. Everyone wants to lose weight that we gained last year, and the year before... and the year before.

Granted, I am definitely trying to eat better - but that is always a uphill battle.  And it always will be for me.

This year I will continue to work with my church's youth group - and we have planned out the first quarter for them over the past two weeks.  As I did this - it struck a cord with me... we always do the same thing the same way - and the kids are happy with this idea.  However, when we do something new, they love it and that becomes the new normal.

I feel like I am on the same ride now, on a repeat loop.  Why do we make the same resolutions every year?  Why do we do the same x y and z all the time?  Granted, the known is comfortable and usually easy.

As a child/teen/young adult - there was a striving to get better and push myself towards that next goal or milestone or to build up my resume or some new adult task (like buying a house!).  But once you are an adult - what is next?  Do we live from event to event, holiday to holiday, new years resolution to new years resolution? Do we look forward to the weekends when we don't have to do anything so we can sleep in?  Is this the "good life"?

I am content, which is perfectly acceptable (I guess).  How do we find new ways to push ourselves to be better than we were next year?  What real resolutions should we be making - or more importantly - should we be keeping?

Now, I am not sure of what I will do to make 2013 different.  I want to find a way to mix it up this year and push myself to be better.  I was to challenge myself and ensure that I make real goals that help me grow as a person.  Honestly, I think this may be more of a challenge than losing weight - maybe they are linked.

What are you doing this year?  How are you mixing it up for 2013?

Fear of Vacuuming

As a child - I was scared to vacuum.  I was scared that I would go over something that I shouldn't and the vacuum would blow up.  I was so motivated NOT to vacuum, I would try to trade chores with my brother to get out of my vacuuming duties.

As an adult, I do not have that fear - you suck up enough strings, bobby pins and other oops items and you get over the fear. Don't get me wrong - I still don't love it - hauling out the vacuum, unwrapping the cord, dancing around trying to get everything, wrapping the cord back up and putting it away. And for me - I don't have room where the vacuum fits anywhere - except the attic.  So it takes me longer getting ready and putting away than it took me to vacuum.

I have two cats that never stop shedding - so ideally, I would vacuum and sweep at least every other day.  (I mean I do hate a dirty house more than the hassle of vacuuming).  Or even worse, when I travel for work and am gone longer periods - I come home to tumble weeds of hair.  Coming home to a dirty house is horrible.

So I made a big purchase.  I bought an iRobot - which is a robotic vacuum.  This purchase has been a game changer in my house.  I can clean other stuff, watch TV, cook, or even leave to run errands or go to work - all while my little robot is busy sweeping and vacuuming my entire house! Rocked my world!

The first time that I ran this - I had to empty the bin 3 times (gross - and this was with me sweeping and vacuuming 2 days before!).  I now can just dump the bin once it is done - running it every 2 or so days.  I still can't believe how much stuff this thing finds every time.  Granted, it goes under tables, beds, couches - things I normally didn't hit with the broom or vacuum. 

My house just feels cleaner.  Now you still have some effort in this cleaning - dumping the bin and cleaning the brushes - but it is minimal compared to my old routine.  Is it perfect - no.  Is it better than my old methods - yes.

Now if I can just teach my cats to ride around on it... 

A Pause in the Happiest Time of Year

I consider myself a very positive and happy person - mainly because, I guess - I am happy.  I love my life.  I have wonderful friends, an amazing boyfriend, a job and career I love, and the best family that I could ever dream of. 

This year, I have started working with my hometowns youth group.  It has been beyond frustrating at times, but for the most part, beyond rewarding.  On top of working with the youth group - I have reconnected with friends from old - through the church's "Young Adult Ministries" group - although I am not sure how "young" I consider myself anymore - but I am okay with that.

All in all, it has been a wonderful year that has flown by too quickly.  I was driving into work today thinking about and running through my holidays lists... the few gifts I still need to get, the groceries I need to buy to make that mac'n'cheese dish for the holiday party tomorrow, and on and on.

But then I paused.  I thought of Pete.  Pete was my grandmother's boyfriend who pasted a few years ago.  I thought of how much I missed him and how, even though he was never "family" marriage - he was a grandfather to me for over ten years.  This naturally led me into remembering my Pop and Meme - I am getting choked up just trying to write about them now...

...

Christmas is suppose to be the happiest (and probably busiest) season of the year.  However, it is hard not to think back to everyone who can't be here with us during this wonderful time and feel a little sad because they are not here to spend it with us.  I try not to linger long on these sad thoughts - I know they would not want me to shed any tears over them.

At this stage in life, everyone has been touched by loss or some unhappy event in their life.  So, I wish for you this holiday season happiness and hope - and a peace within when you do pause to remember.

My Non-Politicial Political Rant

If you know me or notice my few postings on Facebook - you will have noticed that I do not make any political comments, whatsoever.  I do not post or claim any affiliation with any group.

Growing up, I went through a phase when I wanted to be the first female president of the United States.  I have gone from wanting to run for president to someone who refuses to vote for president.  Yes, I will NOT be voting on Tuesday. 

When people ask me who I will be voting for they are shocked to hear my response - my vote is not voting.  I have many reason for this stance - but it is thought out and carefully decided.  I don't take voting lightly - and I think many people do.

While I am proud to live in a country where (essentially) everyone can vote, I am very jaded when it comes to the process, the outcome and most importantly how we vote.

One of the main reasons I do not vote is because I do not feel informed enough to make a sound and educated decision for whom to vote.  I refuse to vote based on any political ad campaign or Facebook postings (or because my parents raised me one way so I will always vote for that party) - as I have often found them to be based on little fact and mostly spin.  I consider myself a well-educated person - so I could educate myself on the topic - but I have decided against it.

As I just put up my antenna to get my free digital television this week (previously only having Netflix and Hulu), I saw my first political commercials this morning.  I was blown away.  Do people actually base their decisions on these commercials?  Are they swayed by the mud throwing?  My biggest fear is that people do - they don't research and check the facts (which are much harder to verify than it should be).  They vote based on commercials and hearsay. 

And to think that the leadership of our country can be swayed by a vote based on an excellent PR campaign... does it not scare you?

I have a Masters in Economics.  It is enough education to let me know that I don't know anything about economics and that I was not smart enough to go on to get a PhD in it.  So to hear people talk about how to "fix" the economy like they actually have a solution that would "fix" it blows my mind.  Most people have never even had a basic course in MacroEconomics. 

An economy is closer to a living breathing organism than a machine.  The economy is not a car that as been in a crash that we can take to get fixed at a body shop this month.  The economy is like a morbidly obese American - we have been abusing our body for years and thinking that if we lay off sodas and walk for 10 minutes a day for 4 years that we are going to be in Olympic condition.  We can make changes now that will show improvement - but it has to be a lifelong commitment to health. 

If we support a system that calls for our leaders to always keep an eye on 4 years down the road so they can get re-elected - are we going to see that commitment to long-term health?  I would argue probably not.  We are going to see crash diets and fads that end up with us yo-yoing in health.  Please do not see this as an argument for longer terms - it is not.

I am just ready for someone to stand up and say, yeah, I am not going to be popular - but I am going to get us back on track.  So what if you don't get elected again - isn't public service more about doing what is best for the public anyway even if it means losing your job after one term?

I am not sure how that person would be elected.  They would have unpopular policies that I am assuming the majority would not like for their immediate happiness - so they would probably not get the support from one of the Major Two.

So if you took anything away from this - it is to please educate yourself with verified facts before making your mark on Tuesday.

Okay - I think I have reached my maximum for political discussion for the month, maybe year.

Happy Voting (or Not Voting)!

Honestly Fat.

America is Fat.  And getting fatter.  Sadly, I am no exception.

As a child, I grew fast.  By my early teenage years, I reached my adult height of 6 feet.  When you are growing that fast, you can't keep weight on - but you are eating house and home.  I am not sure how I turned into a picky eater - but I definitely had a limited color palate for food.  If it wasn't in the white/yellow realm, I probably wasn't going to eat it (read, I loved starches, and not so much the vegetables).

As my father so kindly pointed out, "Once you stop growing up, you start growing out!"  And out I did.  My own family called me Two Tons of Fun.  I was obese by no means, and I slowly leaned out as I didn't have to eat to keep up with growth spurts.  As a high schooler, I ate like a teenager - fast foods, sodas, junk food, heavily processed foods.  Still limited to a small food palate.

Now something special happened in college.  Add alcohol to buffet style unlimited eating for every meal - you have a recipe for weight gain.  I put on the Freshman 40 (or so I said).  I maxed out at about 199 pounds.  Yes, I just admitted my weight publicly.

There is this magical point were you realize you have to change something.  It has to be  met by a desire and determination to change.  I found it with the help of my family the summer after my freshman year of college.  I don't remember the details of how I got to that point and mindset, but I just remember thinking that I was fat and hating it.

So I started paying attention to what I was eating for the first time in my life.  I learned how to eat salads with broccoli and less cheese/dressings and more vegetables (don't get too excited, I am still a picky eater).  I drank less and cut out the sugary mixed drinks.  I started working out, mainly cardio for about an hour a day, 5 times a week.

My eating wasn't great but my workout dedication was.  In less than year, I was in better shape and health than when I entered college.  I dropped down to around 165 lbs.  Life was good.

I kept most of the weight off.  I found kickboxing as my main source of cardio - and once again I couldn't eat enough!  It was like being a kid again.  As with life, things changed again.  I changed jobs and thereby changed lifestyles.

Traveling 100% for my job left me living out of hotels and on 3 restaurant meals a day.  I would come home on the weekends, not to go to the grocery store or cook, but to eat out more.  An uncertain schedule on the road left me kept me from workingout - in reality only I kept myself from working out.

So, I watched the weight go back up.  I remember last Lent seeing someone post on Facebook a comment that Lent was not about dieting or losing weight - and it dawned on me - people so often just need a good 30 or so days of removing bad habits to get them back on track.

Back in June, I decided that I had had enough with gaining weight again.  I took a "Lent" approach and decided to try to give up "bad stuff" one month at a time.  You can do anything for a month, right?  I only had to do it for a month, and then when I allow it back into my diet, hopefully I won't be craving it, but rather have it in limited quantities.

Here is what I have tried out so far:

June - Nothing fried - this was hard - but it made me realize how much stuff was fried.  Chips - I wouldn't even go out to eat Mexican because I couldn't resist the chips/salsa!

July - No sodas - I found that I switched to drinking more sweet tea - so this month was a wash for me.  I probably need to do it again only without sweetened drinks.

August - No meat - I actually am sticking with a vegetarian diet - I loved this and found that I ate healthier, less fried, and virtually no fast food when I do this.  I like the taste and the options for vegetarians.  I found it to be cheaper (with the higher costs of meat) and that I get more protein as I am conscious of what I am eating.

September - No alcohol - I hated this month.  I enjoy my glass of wine with dinner or with a group of friends.  I found that I substituted desserts or snacks for a glass of wine.  The good news - well, bad news for my gas bill, I was able to be the DD for all of our events this month.

Next month - I am thinking about requiring myself to drink at least 8 glasses of water a day.  Who knows - I just try to think of what I should be doing, but not a great job of doing and that is my goal.

So while I am not my college weight and I will never be a size 2 - I am exercising more and eating healthier.  I will never be the girl that doesn't eat cake or survives on rabbit food (salads only).  I am going to enjoy chocolate and good wine. 

What I have realized through all of this... weight management and health is a life long process - I don't think that you can "diet" and reach an end goal.  My 30 day challenges make me stronger and help me focus on my health - it really takes will power.  Life is about balance and learning about yourself - and being happy with it!

A Thousand Words

I love to read.  I always have.  My parents used to yell at me to stop reading at night to go to bed.  Granted, mandated reading during grad school stopped me from leisure reading for even a year after I graduated!  Now especially that house work has calmed down - I have been enjoying my porch swing and good books again.

I do not have a standard MO for acquiring reading materials - I use the Kindle (both bought books and using the lending library), the public library, and buying used books from Amazon.  Reading over a book a week, I prefer free and cheap is a second best. 

With Amazon Prime, you get a free Prime book every month - while the selection is not great, they now have the full Harry Potter series as Prime. 

For Atlanta-Fulton County Library systems, you can "check-out" electronic library books for a period of up to 14 days - they have a growing collection (downside - they also have a growing population of readers so the wait times can be lengthy).

Next, I turn to used books on Amazon - for older books, I can usually find them about $4-$5 a piece. 

For the new books, I generally turn to the Kindle.  I am not known for my patience, so when I am in the middle of a series, waiting for the next installation, I have to get in on my Kindle the day it comes out. 

I resisted buying a Kindle or any type of tablet/e-reader for a long time.  However, a mix weekly travel with the need to take at least 2 books with you for the week - need for space won me over.  I now actually prefer the Kindle to actual paperbacks.  I can use one hand and you can see it well in most lights (no glare).  I prefer it over my iPad - for reading. 

So what have I read this month? 
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azaban
Fifty Shades Darker
Fifty Shades Freed
Shadow of Night
Harvest Moon (Virgin River Series)
Dead Reckoning: A Sookie Stackhouse Novel

What is upcoming on the reading list?
More Harry Potter
Divergent
Insurgent (if I like Divergent)

Check out my Library Page for my reviews and fav reads. 
Let me know if you have any suggestions for must reads!

Cork It.

Hi. My name is Suzanne. And I have a Pinterest problem.  Pinterest makes me feel as though I can build, cook, or create anything cheaper and just as cute (or tasty) as something that I could buy.

Sometimes it costs just as much.  Sometimes it is WAY cheaper.  Sometimes it tastes awesome.  Sometimes we get Chinese takeout.  Sometimes it is cute.  Sometimes it goes in the trash.

Even though I have had a few failures along the way - I love trying.  I like the satisfaction of making something, maybe I get that from being raised on a farm.

So when I needed a cork board to pin up things that didn't need to be filed away immediately in my office, and the cheaply framed cork boards were not an option, but neither were the super expensive ones - I turned to Amazon and Pinterest.

I originally planned on just buying cork squares and spacing 4 of them out (without frames or anything).  I ordered a pack from Amazon (I love Amazon).  After getting them and starting to place them, I didn't like the idea.  Now I have all these cork squares, no plan and still no cork board.


Then, I remembers that I had this old piece of art - I was going to donate it or sell it, but I decided to re-purpose it.  I mean if I messed it up - I wouldn't really be out anything, right?

I unscrewed and pulled out all of the nails/backing for the frame.  I removed the print and the glass.  I replaced the print section with the cork squares (I had to cut them down).  I put the backing back down and went to town on it with my staple gun (every girl should own one).

Project: Success!  I love the frame plus matting look around the cork board.  I put post-it notes on the matting part.  I now have a really cute cork board that looks nice enough to have it in front of me all day while I work.  And, the best part, it was under $10 and only took about 30 minutes to make!

Poop!

Did you know... Premium kopi luwak coffee is made from coffee beans isolated from civet poop. Civets are small mammals from tropical parts of Asia and Africa.

Did you know... The types of food animals eat can change the color of their poop. Penguins leave white or gray droppings after eating fish, pink droppings after eating krill and yellow droppings after eating squid.

Did you know... Some coprolites (ancient poop) have mineralized over time and contain beautiful swirls of color. Some of them are polished for jewelry.

Poop - enough said right? Never! Poop is a fascinating subject - if you say no, you are in denial. 

I had a "poopy" birthday this year.  Tim and I visited Fernbank for the Scoop on Poop exhibit - "the #1 exhibit on #2".  The exhibit had some fun facts, but it was really geared for a younger audience - we still had a great time. 

Tim then gave me the CitiKitty - a potty training system for my cats - as a part of my birthday gifts! That is right, we are now training my two cats how to use the toilet.  No more cleaning the litter box or having litter all over the bathroom!

I was so excited!  The first week, it was great and the cats had no problems using it.  Then, the next step when you punch out a ring (see 2 Train in the photo above), things went down the toilet - except not literally.  The cats wouldn't poop in the toilet.  I knew they were holding it and to my horror - they decided to use my bed instead of the toilet.  Vomit and triple washing my sheets.

I hoped it was an isolated incident.  It was really a revolt.  After another bed poop and then a poop in my dirty laundry - I was done with potty training.  But, end the end, Tim and I decided that we would not let the cats win.  So, we locked them in the bathroom (with plenty of food and water and toys). 
They are finally using the toilet again.

I think this process will take several more weeks to actually get them through training as we don't move to the next level (a larger and larger hole in the training ring) until both cats successfully use the toilet repeatedly without being locked in.

I feel like a parent, monitoring my cats bowel movements to make sure they are going - knowing when they are holding it - and then cleaning up the messes. 

Hey - but if I ever have kids they can't be more difficult to potty train than two huge cats, right?

This is Suzy Homemaker, keeping you posted on the poop!

The One Year Itch

I feel so cliche when I comment on how fast time seems to be flying - but it is really mind blowing for me.  Like, I just got a notice for my high school's 10 year reunion.  Granted, I am happy high school is well behind me - I would consider it at the bottom of an amazing ride up in my life.  But, 10 years, really?

Next month, I will celebrate the one year anniversary of buying my house.  Since I bought it in nearly perfect condition (fresh paint, recently renovated, nice lawn), I didn't have much to do house project wise. 

Now, if you look back on my blog, I have done several small projects: staining the fence and back porch, glazing the bathroom windows, painting my porch furniture, creating storage spaces, etc. 

I have also done some things that haven't made the blog - like cleaning out most of my junk - from cleaning out flower beds to organizing paperwork in my office to cleaning out my closet and attic.  If you hurry, I am sure you can find a TON of my stuff at the local GoodWill stores!

I guess I am officially settled into the house. 



So, what next?  I have been here a year, and... am bored.  I was so used to moving every year or two - but I am home now.  And my home doesn't need anything other than cleaning, ugh!

Here's to 1 year and being a happy homeowner!

Squirrels: A Rant

My yard nemesis.  Rats with fluffy tails. Squirrels.

They have taken over the neighborhood. 

They constantly chew off little branches off of my trees (which I constantly have to pick up out of my yard). 

They dig holes throughout my yard - I swear just to annoy me.

They obviously allow snakes in the yard - the supposed one benefit of having these rats around.

I hear them running on my roof and watch them run along my fence and power cords - laughing at me.

I have tried cayenne pepper and other critter solutions that should deter them away from my yard.  The squirrels haven't been deterred.

Now, back in the country - Dad would just take out a screen and shoot them from the house.  Oh, sometimes I do miss the country.

If you have any ideas on dealing with them - pass them along, please!

Squirrels - 1.  Suzy Homemaker - 0.